Vial adaptor

Abstract

A vial adaptor is disclosed. The vial adaptor can include a cap member and a piston. The cap member can removably couple to a vial storing, for example, liquid constituent for facilitating sample collection for detecting pathogens. The piston can distally translate through the cap member and into the vial to generate volume displacement and positive pressure, which can cause the liquid constituent stored in the vial to flow out from the vial via a channel formed within the piston. The piston can include a cover that creates a water-tight seal with an inner surface of the vial.

1 . A vial adaptor configured to facilitate transfer of fluid from a vial to a receiving device, the vial adaptor comprising:
 a cap member comprising a proximal opening, a distal opening, and a threaded portion configured to removably couple with a corresponding threaded portion formed on an opening of a vial;   a piston comprising a cover, a distal end, a proximal end, a channel, and a body extending between the distal end and the proximal end and comprising a head, the cover configured to surround the head and abut an inner surface of the vial, the channel extending between the distal end and the proximal end of the piston, wherein the channel is configured to allow flow of fluid through the piston between the distal end and the proximal end;   a ratchet system comprising:
 a first arm formed about the proximal opening of the cap member, at least a portion of the first arm extending inward towards a center of the proximal opening of the cap member, the first arm comprising a tip; and 
 a first rack formed along the body of the piston, the first rack configured to engage the first arm, wherein the engagement between the first rack and the first arm allows the piston to translate in a first direction; 
   wherein a translation of the piston in the first direction is configured to cause a positive pressure change in the vial and withdrawal of fluid stored in the vial through the channel of the piston.   
     
     
         2 .- 48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . The vial adaptor of  claim 1 , wherein the first direction is a direction towards the vial. 
     
     
         50 . The vial adaptor of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement between the first rack and the first arm prevents the piston from translating in a second direction. 
     
     
         51 . The vial adaptor of  claim 50 , wherein the second direction is a direction away from the vial. 
     
     
         52 . A piston for withdrawing fluid stored in a vial, the piston comprising:
 a distal end;   a proximal end;   a body extending between the distal end and the proximal end, the body comprising a head comprising a distal aperture, the proximal end comprising a proximal aperture;   a channel formed within the body and extending between the distal aperture and the proximal aperture;   the head of the piston configured to irreversibly translate towards and into a vial and generate a positive pressure change in the vial, thereby causing a flow of fluid stored in the vial into the channel via the distal aperture and out of the channel via the proximal aperture.   
     
     
         53 . The piston of  claim 52 , wherein a width of the channel increases from the distal aperture to the proximal aperture. 
     
     
         54 . The piston of any of  claim 52  further comprising a rack comprising a plurality of teeth. 
     
     
         55 . The piston of  claim 54 , wherein the rack is formed along a length of the body of the piston. 
     
     
         56 . The piston of  claim 54 , wherein each of the plurality of teeth comprises a leading edge and a stopping edge. 
     
     
         57 . The piston of  claim 56 , wherein the leading edges of the plurality of teeth are configured to allow an arm of a cap member to slide along in a first direction, and wherein the stopping edges of the plurality of teeth are configured to prevent the arm of the cap member from moving in a second direction opposite from the first direction. 
     
     
         58 . The piston of any of  claim 52 , wherein the piston is configured to move through a proximal opening and a distal opening of a cap member, and wherein the cap member is configured to be attached to an opening of the vial. 
     
     
         59 . The piston of  claim 58 , wherein the cap member is positioned between the piston and the vial. 
     
     
         60 . The piston of  claim 52  further comprising a cover, the cover configured to cover the distal end of the piston, and wherein an outer circumference of the cover is configured to abut an inner surface of the vial to create a seal between the cover and the vial. 
     
     
         61 . The piston of  claim 60 , wherein the cover is a molded elastomer. 
     
     
         62 . The piston of  claim 52 , wherein the proximal end of the piston is configured to removably couple with a receiving device. 
     
     
         63 . A method of withdrawing fluid stored in a vial via a vial adaptor, the method comprising:
 coupling a distal opening of a cap member of a vial adaptor to an opening of a vial, the cap member comprising a proximal opening opposite of the distal opening;   coupling a proximal end of a piston of the vial adaptor to an opening of a receiving device;   distally translating the piston towards the vial and through the proximal opening and the distal opening of the cap member, a head of the piston configured to abut an inner surface of the vial to create a water-tight seal between the head of the piston and the inner surface of the vial, a distal translation of the piston towards the vial configured to generate positive pressure change in the vial and cause a flow of fluid stored in the vial, wherein the piston is configured to resist motion in a direction opposite the distal translation.   
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the head of the piston is a molded elastomer. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the cap member comprises an arm and the piston comprises a rack comprising a plurality of teeth, and wherein the arm of the cap member and the plurality of teeth of the piston are configured to engage during the distal translation of the piston. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein each of the plurality of teeth of the rack comprises a leading edge and a stopping edge, wherein the arm slides along the leading edges of the plurality of teeth of the rack during the distal translation of the piston, and wherein the stopping edges of the plurality of teeth of the rack are configured to prevent a proximal translation of the piston away from the vial. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the piston comprises a channel extending between a distal aperture formed about a distal end of the piston and a proximal aperture formed about the proximal end of the piston.